November 12, 2024

 

Poultry tops cost burden of foodborne illness in Australia, new study finds

A recent study has highlighted the significant economic impact of foodborne illness in Australia, with poultry linked to the highest costs among food groups.

 

Estimates indicate that foodborne disease costs Australia AUD 2.81 billion (US$1.85 billion) annually. The research, commissioned by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), was conducted by the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University.

 

The project aimed to estimate the annual cost of foodborne illness attributed to specific food commodities and pathogens. Accurate cost attribution remains crucial for regulatory decisions, helping authorities prioritise resources for research, monitoring, surveillance, and standards development. Using expert elicitation, the study created estimates combining insights from microbiologists and other specialists to support regulators' decision-making.

 

The University of Melbourne's expert elicitation process attributed illness from eight pathogens—non-typhoidal Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Yersinia, Vibrio, and Bacillus cereus—to particular foods. However, only six of these pathogens were included in the costing model.

 

The food categories examined included beef, lamb, pork, poultry, eggs, dairy, finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and others. Cost estimates accounted for illness burden, hospitalisations, deaths, and sequelae, alongside direct and indirect financial costs, premature mortality, and non-financial costs of pain and suffering.

 

Among the estimated AUD 721 million (US$474 million) costs for the six included pathogens, poultry accounted for the highest burden at AUD 328 million (US$216 million). Costs were primarily linked to Campylobacter at AUD 279 million (US$184 million), followed by Salmonella at AUD 35.5 million (US$23.3 million) and Listeria monocytogenes at AUD 2.86 million (US$1.9 million). Other commodities with significant costs were vegetables at AUD 107 million (US$70.4 million), dairy at AUD 61 million (US$40.1 million), beef, and pork at both AUD 56 million (US$36.9 million).

 

Vegetables were linked to 26% of Salmonella-related costs and 23% of costs from Listeria monocytogenes. Beef, meanwhile, was associated with 34% of costs from STEC and 23% from Toxoplasma gondii.

 

Poultry was identified as the primary source of Campylobacter, with an annual cost of AUD 280 million (US$184 million) stemming from 174,000 initial illnesses, 28,000 cases of sequel illness, 5,920 hospitalisations, and eight deaths. Other leading sources were categorised as "other," vegetables, and beef.

 

For Listeria, vegetables were the leading source, with an annual cost of AUD 21 million (US$13.8 million) arising from 22 hospitalisations and four deaths. Other main sources included dairy, fruit, and finfish.

 

Vegetables also emerged as the primary source of Salmonella, costing AUD 42 million (US$27.6 million) from 15,300 initial illnesses, 2,630 sequel illnesses, 1,150 hospitalisations, and three deaths. Other significant sources were poultry, eggs, and beef.

 

STEC costs were primarily attributed to beef, with an annual impact of AUD 4.6 million (US$3 million) from 864 initial illnesses, 25 sequel cases, 38 hospitalisations, and one death. Other frequent sources included vegetables, dairy, and lamb.

 

Beef also topped the sources for Toxoplasma, with an annual cost of AUD 3.5 million (US$2.3 million) due to 3,380 illnesses and eight hospitalisations. Other main sources were lamb, vegetables, and pork.

 

Pork was the main source of Yersinia, costing AUD 6 million (US$3.9 million) annually from 3,510 initial cases, 377 sequel cases, and 32 hospitalisations. Other frequent sources were vegetables, beef, and lamb.

 

A total cost of AUD 56 million (US$36.9 million) could not be attributed to any of the 14 identified food commodities. The findings underscore the financial impact of foodborne illness in Australia and the need for targeted prevention and monitoring efforts.

 

-      Food Safety News